Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel voters rejected the proposed $62.6 million fiscal year 2026 budget during Tuesday’s referendum.

The vote was 1,180 in favor and 1,387 against in Kennebunk, 390 in favor and 431 against in Kennebunkport, and 158 in favor and 271 against in Arundel.

In total, it failed 1,728 to 2,089 — a margin of 361 votes.

The RSU 21 school district budget was officially adopted by the School Board at the district’s annual meeting May 5, and represents a 5.5% increase over the current year’s budget.

Just over $54.3 million of the budget will come from taxation, an increase of nearly $4 million compared to the current fiscal year.

At the May 5 meeting, school board Chair Matthew Stratford said the budget reflects the district’s commitment to the community and staff input, as well as support for the RSU 21 workforce and students.

“This budget moves us forward, reflects the priorities we’ve heard from our community, and keeps us on track to deliver on our strategic plan,” Stratford said.

The budget was shaped by community feedback and fixed costs and commitments made by the district, Stratford said.

It prioritizes students first and foremost, he said, including keeping the full range of student-facing services and resources at every school.

The budget also reflects wage increases for staff members, as well as two new student-facing roles, including a float nurse and a social worker focused on substance abuse prevention in the middle and high schools.

“We know every challenge isn’t going to be solved in a single budget cycle, but what we can do, and what we’ve done, is listen carefully, act thoughtfully, and stay focused on what’s best for the future of RSU 21,” Stratford said.

All 18 articles of the budget were approved by district voters at the May 5 meeting, with discussion opportunities presented for each article.